Although the post of Director of Mines became vacant after the last incumbent was suspended following a Vigilance inquiry on illegal mining about 10 years back, the State Government, instead of filling up the vacancy from among the senior officers in the department, has opted to post a Forest Department official as an interim Director since then.
This ad-hoc Director from the Forest Department superannuated long back; but surprisingly, his tenure has been temporarily extended again and again since years ignoring the senior officers from both the Mining and Geology Departments.
A retired official, if posted in a regular post, cannot take full-fledged decisions as per the service code rules. Mining being a very important sector in terms of the State’s economy needs to be headed by a technical officer from the same department.
While promotion of many competent officers to the post of Director of Mines is already due, why the post is being held by a particular retired forest official has raised suspicion. With the elections getting nearer, continuance of an ad-hoc official may be for obtaining benefits from mining companies for political purposes, it is alleged in the minerals-rich Keonjhar district.